What Does “Ago” Mean in English?

Ago is a word we use to talk about time in the past. It helps us count back from the present moment.

Think of it as meaning “before now.” It tells you how long before today something happened.

• It always refers to an action or event that is completely finished.
• It helps you answer questions like When did it happen?

How Do We Use "Ago" with the Past Simple?

We always use ago with the Past Simple tense. The structure is very important:

• First, use a verb in the Past Simple.
• Then, add a time expression (e.g., two hours, a week, many years).
• Finally, add the word ago.

Look at this pattern:

• Subject + Past Simple verb + time expression + ago.

When Should I Use "Ago"?

Use ago when you want to specify a point in time in the past, counting backwards from now.

• Use it for actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
• It answers questions such as When did you last see a film? ou How long ago did you move?
• It gives a clear reference point in the past relative to the present moment.

“Ago” vs. “For”: What's the Difference?

It's easy to confuse ago et for because both talk about time. However, they are used differently:

• Ago: Used with the Past Simple. It tells you when an action *finished*. It counts back from now. Example: I started this course three months ago. (The starting action finished three months before now.)
• For: Often used with the Present Perfect. It tells you the *duration* of an action that *continues up to now*. Example: I have studied English for three months. (I started three months ago and I am still studying.)

Exemples

• I went to the cinema two days ago.
• She finished her homework an hour ago.
• They moved to a new city six months ago.
• My brother called me five minutes ago.
• We visited Spain three years ago.
• The concert started a long time ago.

Entraînement

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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Many Spanish speakers make similar mistakes when using ago. Here are the most common ones:

• Incorrect position of ago: In Spanish, you might say "Hace dos días..." but in English, ago always comes *after* the time expression.
  • Wrong: Ago two days I went to the cinema.
  • Right: I went to the cinema two days ago.
• Using the wrong verb tense: Ago always goes with the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect.
  • Wrong: I have seen her a week ago.
  • Right: I saw her a week ago.
• Confusing ago with for: Remember ago for a finished point in the past, for for a duration up to now.
  • Wrong: I have lived here ago five years.
  • Right: I have lived here for five years. (If you still live there)
  • Right: I lived here five years ago. (If you don't live there now)

Questions fréquemment posées

Can I use "ago" with the Present Perfect tense?

No, you cannot. Ago is always used with the Past Simple tense because it refers to a completed action at a specific point in the past. For example, I finished my work an hour ago.

Where does "ago" go in an English sentence?

Ago always comes at the end of the time expression, after the number and the unit of time. For example, three days ago, a month ago, many years ago.

Is "ago" used for future events?

No, ago is strictly used for past events. It counts time backwards from the present moment. For future events, you might use expressions like in two days ou next week.

How is "ago" tested in the A2 Key (KET) exam?

In the A2 Key exam, you might see ago in tasks like Part 2 (short messages) or Part 7 (open cloze). You may need to complete a sentence about a past event, using the correct time expression with ago, or answer a question about when something happened, for example: When did you last go to the library? I went there a week ago.

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